More than a third (34%) of businesses surveyed are investing in greener vehicles .

Did you know? You could save up to £904 a year on fuel by switching to an Electric Vehicle (source).

Top tips:

• Review your fleet of company vehicles and journeys made to check you’re using the right vehicle technology and fuel for the job.
• Check you’re using the most efficient routes and correct -sized vehicles for the volume of cargo in deliveries.
• Create a Green Travel Policy to share guidance on how people can make any trips more sustainable, this can include advice on the best modes of transport to use, approved hotels and tips to help people reduce waste on their journeys.
• Reduce unnecessary mileage by monitoring business travel and considering where journeys aren’t necessary (particularly if meetings can take place online).
• Review the couriers you use and look for more sustainable options.

Just under a third (30%) of businesses surveyed are using solar panels and over a quarter (28%) use renewable energy providers or tariffs.

Did you know? In a 120 sq ft office, swapping out 20-60 watt lights for LEDS could result in cost savings of around £240 a year and emissions savings of 1,039.64kg (source).

Top tips:

• Label the switches of operating machinery so staff know what they can turn off when not in use.
• Encourage staff to turn their computers off at night rather than leaving them on standby. Laptops are typically more energy efficient than desktops, but people are more likely to leave them on constantly.
• Invest in lighting controls, sensor switches and dimmable fittings, and upgrade your premises to LED lights
• Invest in a smart meter or upgrading to smart thermostats that you can programme remotely to turn on at specific times and locations.
• Consider investing in renewable assets such as solar panels or air source heat pumps.

Green Buildings Tool from Lloyds Bank, an interactive digital tool that can help you identify energy-efficient investments in your buildings.

Many financial institutions offer incentives when borrowing money to install renewable assets like solar panels, including Lloyds Bank who offer the Clean Growth Financing Initiative.

Almost half (46%) of firms surveyed are using recycling and waste reduction practices.

Did you know? Experts suggest that between 20% and 25% of packaging-related expenses can be saved if companies ditch oversized packaging (source).

Top tips:

• Label each waste, recycling and compost bin clearly, with samples of items to show which bin they should be put into.
• Assess your suppliers and make sure you’re working with companies who can help you identify ways to reduce packaging and waste. Consider bulk buying or choosing products with a longer lifespan that need replacing less frequently.
• Set printers to print on both sides of the paper as a default and switch to draft quality where possible. Monitor printing behaviour and set targets for reduction.
• Use e-signatures and digital documents instead of printed forms to save on paper and printing costs.
• Ban single-use plastic in the office and consider issuing all staff with a reusable water bottle or coffee cup.

One in six (16%) SMEs have or are planning to adopt a green supply chain policy.

Did you know? As a result of ESG initiatives, supply chain directors report seeing a 31% increase in efficiency and productivity, a 32% increase in customer loyalty, and a 37% increase in employee quality of life (source).

• Make contact with your suppliers on sustainability; benefits of doing so can include reducing reputational risk through greater transparency, and cost and emissions savings through increased collaboration in areas like packaging and transport.
• Ways to encourage engagement between you and your suppliers could include regular meetings – virtual or face-to-face – for sharing experiences and best practice.
• You could also introduce supplier score cards which can be completed annually to help identify which suppliers are meeting your sustainability requirements and, particularly with critical suppliers, can also be used as a starting point for discussions.

Three out of five (61%) SMEs are yet to take any action towards becoming Net Zero.

Did you know? On average, businesses with 100 employees could save 53 tonnes of CO₂, £261,000 on energy, property, and travel costs, and 8520 hours on commuting and business travel per year by having employees work from home two days a week (source)

• An easy way to start your Net Zero journey is to complete an audit, like Lloyds Bank’s Clean Growth Audit which provides step-by-step instructions for conducting your own sustainability audit, covering energy, waste and recycling, transport, water and more.
• Small changes can make a big difference; you can start with changing to LED lighting, switching to a renewable energy tariff, or reviewing flexible working policies.
• Scope 3 emissions, indirect emissions that occur as part of your value chain, can be harder to assess, but as they typically make up the bulk of your business’ carbon footprint, it’s important to give consideration to them when making your Net Zero plan.